We recommend the following tips for bottle feeding your baby. Try to start using them during the first six weeks. Otherwise, start them whenever you can.
Tips
Hold your baby close and slightly upright.
Change the side you hold your baby at each feed.
Never allow your baby to feed alone or have them propping up the bottle.
Think of feeds as time for interaction: it’s when your baby can focus on you and practice communicating. Make lots of eye contact, and maintain skin-to-skin touch with your baby.
Try to have one main carer giving feeds. This encourages oxytocin (the ‘love hormone’) and reduces stress hormones. It’s an essential combination for brain development, and encourages a close bond.
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